Written Challenge Solution Summary Each bi-national team should submit one version of this Written Challenge Solution Summary with your video submission. See Solution Submission Instructions. We encourage you to review the judging criteria on page six of your innovator guide as well as review the Video Tips document made available on Oba. Team Name: Title of Your Solution Submission:

STEMULATORS BAMBOO AS A GREEN INFRASTRUCTURE

School One: Teacher Representative for School One:

CARDOZO EDUCATIONAL CAMPUS JACOB SCOTT

School Two: Teacher Representative for School Two:

METHODIST GIRLS HIGH SCHOOL BEN AMOAKOH

Link to Video (YouTube or Vimeo)

STUDENT ROLE

https://youtu.be/rDS8ZX9aUp0?list=PLERqpipzq3rQjEnoEjae22GM4r3AtdDf8

Team Leader Task Manager

NAMES FROM TEAMS IN US (FIRST AND LAST NAME) Aniya Young Teresa Kassahun

NAMES FROM TEAMS IN GHANA (FIRST AND LAST NAME) Esther Torga-Drovou Hilary Engmann

Technology Expert

Julian Alarcon

Ying-Chieh Kao

Paulina Captan

Researcher

Shalayla Johnson

Kendall Hardy

Recorder

Aaliyatatiana Ramos-Ruby

Precious Kunadu Sarpong Ewurasi Kitson

Journalist

Melany Perez

Stephanie Seli Broni

Afia Antwiwaa Osei Susana Larbi Asare

The Problem THE GLOBAL PROBLEM INTRODUCTION Globally there are alarming rate of Hazardous waste and pollutants from substances that destroy and pull a threat to our environment (air, water and land). They are substances released into the environment naturally and artificially from activities that happen in our environment. These wastes consist of solid, liquid, gaseous and organic waste. Many of these wastes are from hospitals, schools, industries, cars and homes. Sewages containing fecal matter consist of micro and macro bacteria and waste water from washing and bathing containing potassium hydroxide (KOH) and sodium hydroxide (NaOH) from detergents. Organic waste from decaying leaves, fruits and vegetables also contributes to the menace. Substances from construction and mining sites containing cyanide, gypsum and iron oxide also affect the community negatively. All these pollutants contribute to high productivity and increase the budgets of countries retarding development.

SELECTED TOPIC:

WATER POLLUTION

It is the contamination of water bodies (lakes, rivers).This form of degradation occurs when pollutants are directly or indirectly discharged into water bodies without adequate treatment to remove harmful compounds. In developing countries, 70 percent of industrial waste is dumped untreated into waters where they pollute the usable water supply.

This is as a result of releasing harmful or toxic substances (solid, liquid, organic, inorganic, etc) into water bodies to make them impure and harmful to nature and human consumption. Water pollution is mostly about quantities; how much of a polluting substance is released and how big a volume of water is released into. A small quantity of a toxic chemical may have little impact if spilled into the ocean from a ship. SOURCES     

Improper disposal of refuse Disposal of sewages into water bodies Disposure of waste water from homes, schools, industries, etc Ashes from burnt e-waste containing harmful chemicals eg lead Oil spillage from industries

Effects     

Outbreak of diseases Making water unfit for any purpose Endangering aquatic life Lead poisoning etc. Increasing treatment costs.

STEMULATORS in DC visited polluted communities and Ghanaian team visited Nsawam-Adoagyiri, Weija, Agbogbloshie and Akropong community to ascertain the level of pollution. It was clear that water pollution topped the list and as a result the selection of that topic. Cardozo brought up water problem in Washington DC, the Potomac River where there is loss of aquatic lives due to pollution while Methodist Girls also discussed similar issues at Weija and Agbogbloshie where water pollution is at its peak. Subsequently, the government of Ghana has been putting money into the renewal of water to the detriment of the other problems in the country.

Water pollution problem in the world has increased drastically. Over 2billion people and their various communities suffer from this problem. The following pictures were the observations made:

OBSERVATION MADE AT ABGOGBLOSHIE

The Process Each team member brainstormed on the following 1. 2. 3. 4. 5. 6. 7.

Electron Purification Green Infrastructure The Netting System to Mitigate the amount of pollutants in Rivers and Lakes Green Infrastructure Using the 3Rs approach (Reduce, Recycle and Reuse) Sunflower Plantation Waste water treatment Plant

After collaborations, both national and bi-national teams agreed using Green infrastructure. Green infrastructure must be made at the lower stream and upper stream of the community. This will prevent pollutants from flowing into the water bodies. When it rains, trees act like a giant umbrella in natural and undeveloped areas intercepting rainfall in their canopies, reducing the amount of unfiltered water that goes into the water bodies. Examples are Green Roofs, Right-of-way Bio swale, Rain garden, Permeable paving. Green infrastructure reduces the discharge of pollutants into receiving water.

CHOOSING A PROTOTYPE STEMULATORS chose bamboo to other plants because bamboo prevents both solid and liquid waste from polluting water. It has a dense system to trap solid waste. •

It is grown without pesticides or chemical fertilizers.

•

It requires no irrigation.

•

It rarely needs replanting.

•

It grows rapidly and can be harvested in 3-5 years and difficult to eradicate.

•

It has the ability to absorb greenhouse gases; it absorbs carbon dioxide and releases 35% more oxygen into the atmosphere than an equivalent stand of hard wood tree which reduces global warming.

•

It sequesters carbon dioxide and it is carbon neutral.

•

It is a critical element in the balance of oxygen and carbon dioxide in the atmosphere.

•

It is an excellent soil erosion inhibitor.

•

Its production into fibers has lower environmental impact than other forms of fibers especially synthetic ones.

HOW TO MAKE A HOUSEHOLD OR INDUSTRIAL FILTER USING BAMBOO STEP 1 There will be an inflow where all waste water will be connected Example: All sink pipes in the house should be channeled to the inflow. This set-up should be done by creating a bamboo garden. STEP 2 Once the waste water gets into the inflow, .This filtration bed will filter and sieve all the pollutants before it gets to the second level. STEP 3 Despite the fact that the filtration bed will sieve the waste, some pollutants may not be captured so it moves on to the second stage called the treatment bed to be absorbed by the bamboo. STEP 4 This stage involves polishing the water. This means that, in a case where the waste water smells, bamboo char should be added to the tube which connects the polishing bed. Water passes through, in order to remove odour. Then, it flows out into the gutters or drains called the outflow.

In a community, a similar or larger filtration beds with bamboo plantation should be planted (Bamboo swamp). An example is our first prototype using bamboo plantation at Madam Leticia’s house in Amanokrom.

TESTING PROTOTYPE (Does bamboo absorbs hazardous waste and pollutants.) The Prototype 1. An open tank was filled with polluted water from Akropong community. More Pollutants were added to meet a standard pollution worldwide such as a. Cement (SiO2, Aluminium oxide, Magnesium Oxide, calcium hydroxide) b. Dirty Lubricants from vehicles (sulfur, aluminum, arsenic, calcium, chromium, copper, iron, magnesium, manganese, potassium, silicon, sodium, tin, toluene, benzene, xylene, ethylbenzene, and nitrogen)

2. 3. 4. 5.

c. Animal droppings, detergents(Micro-organisms) d. Waste water from the schools’ pantry and drains from the bathrooms). Pollutants were mixed up to obtain a uniform mixture. Sample was taken to Laboratory for testing to obtain both Physio-chemical and biological constituents. (Water Research Institute) Bamboo was transported to be planted into the water (allowing some of the leaves to drop into it) Six days after plantation another water sample was taken for testing to obtain the absorption level of hazardous waste and pollutants by the bamboo.

Final results from testing PARAMETERS 1. 2. 3. 4. 5. 6. 7. 8. 9. 10. 11. 12. 13.

Apparent color pH Sodium Potassium Calcium Ammonia(NH4-N) Sulphate (SO4) Nitrite(NO2-N) Nitrate(NO3-N) Total Hardness (as CaCO3) Total Akalinity (as CaCO3) Calcium Hardness (as CaCO3) Bicarconate (as CaCO3)

INITIAL VALUES 25.00 7.56 32.40 4.80 46.40 1.06 59.00 1.68 3.29 156.00 113.00 116.00 138.00

ACTUAL VALUES AFTER BAMBOO PLANTATION 15.00 7.01 28.30 4.20 39.50 0.51 47.80 0.782 2.10 152.00 69.00 68.80 84.20

Results show that there is a tremendous improvement in the water after the Bamboo plantation.

The Solution INTRODUCTION There is increasing pollution of water source by organic compounds, most of which decompose biologically. These substances resist the self-purification capabilities of rivers as well as degradation in conventional waste water treatment plant. Extraordinary micro structure of the bamboo helps to purify water. Similarly drinking water sterilized with chlorine can be treated with bamboo charcoal to absorb residual chlorides. When bamboo species are planted along the river banks it traps all solid waste and also absorbs the liquid waste. It has some qualities such as being antioxidant and antimicrobial, it stops the actions of bacteria, microbes and fungi. It also reduces constructional waste by protecting the environment from its pollution. Bamboo has notable economic and raw product for food source and building materials in; South and East Asia, Australia, India, Sub-Saharan Africa, Southern Argentina, Central Chile, Central America, Mexico and South eastern United states where several companies are growing, harvesting and distributing species such as Phylostachys nigra (Henon), Phyllostachys nigra sdulis (Henon).

THE HEALTH BENEFITS Below are some of the health benefits of bamboo. 1. HEALS DEPRESSION; The plant channels negative energy reduces chronic pain, stress, anxiety and depression as it is believed to dispel negative energy. 2. CORRECTS IRREGULAR MENSTRUAL CYCLES; In Asian medicine, the juice of bamboo leaves when taken regularly can correct menstrual irregularities. 3. HEALTHY WEIGHT LOSS;

A cup of bamboo shoot can keep you full and satiated for hours, yet it only contains 13 calories and less than 0.5g of fat. 4. DIGESTION; All sorts of stomach problems can heal by eating bamboo leaves. Studies have shown that they strengthen and reinforce the stomach muscles. 5. NATURAL DIURETIC; Bamboo is used to stimulate the smooth flow of urine for people with urinary troubles. The leaves can restore body fluid and are a natural diuretic, promoting bladder health. 6. ANTI-INFLAMMATORY; They contain analgesic and anti-inflammatory effects, and it used to treat ulcers as well as swollen injuries. 7. ANTI BIOTIC AND ANTI MICROBIAL Bamboo sheets can keep your bed germ-free with its anti-microbial and anti-biotic properties. 8. HEALS RESPIRATORY DISEASES 9. AROMATHERAPY; Bamboo has a very nice smell which is used in body creams.

Tidbits  

Bamboo is an effective erosion control plant No other plant material can rival the utility of bamboo.



Thomas Edison successfully used a carbonized bamboo filament in his first light bulb experiment.  He also used bamboo as rebar for the reinforcement of his swimming pool.  Alexander Graham Bell also made use of bamboo for his first photograph needle. 30 days old bamboo is good for eating, 6-9 months for making baskets, 2-3 years for bamboo boards and laminations and 3-6 years for construction. Bamboo can be also processed to wool which is used for making accessories such as shirts, bags, socks, etc.

Almost 1 million acres of forest lose its natural life leading to deforestation, bamboo reduces the rate of deforestation and global warming in the world, some species of bamboo grows more than three feet a day.

Cross-Cultural Collaboration Global citizenship also known as’ world citizenship’ typically defines a person who places his identity with a global community above their identity as a citizen of a particular nation or place. The idea is that, one’s identity transcends geographical or political borders and that planetary human community is interdependent, humankind is essentially one. In collaborating with our bi-national team and deciding on a specific challenge to solve, we settled on water pollution as our challenge. The whole team came together and addressed the challenge and how people in that situation would be affected and also to brainstorm for a possible? Cardozo and Methodist Girl’s (STEMULATORS) went through various forms of communications to reach each other. We did a collaborative work by discussing worldwide problems pertaining to pollution. Each day, every team member collaborated effectively till we achieved our aim. Both teams also did our best to meet time schedules and also work together. It was not easy at the beginning getting both teams to communicate but with perseverance, we succeeded. We made sure to avail ourselves to any platform available for virtual discussions, through WhatsApp chats, texts, e-mails and video chats. We made sure to e-mail each other on any update after each school had the e-mail addresses of the various team members. We used social media also for sharing photos and videos to answer questions. Effective calls were made to know more and if one team is not keeping up with the challenge, we made sure to reach each other on updates on any solutions and findings. This has helped a lot in our final solution and making a firm prototype.

The Vision STEMULATORS, when given the platform after winning, will use it wisely and progressively. We will do all our best to implement our idea of bamboo plantation and use of bamboo charcoal. Since bamboo is a natural resource, it does not require heavy budgets in cultivating therefore our main aim is to educate the public on the nature and the benefits in planting bamboo. Plots of lands would be accessed in both DC and GHANA where bamboo will be cultivated. People would be educated in planting bamboo in their homes, where household bamboo filters would be constructed for the purification of liquid waste entering water bodies. Platforms would be setup in both countries for public education on pollution, its causes and effects, how to mitigate water pollution and how bamboo helps in doing that. Videos would be posted on social media for every community to view and know how pollution leads to global warming destroying our world. Bamboo would be planted along every water source in both countries. We will work with the EPA (Environmental Protection Agency) to help make and enforce laws against pollution. Bamboo charcoal production would be introduced and there would be a public education on it. Bamboo in Ghana is hardly sold, people who have bamboo species in their homes and farms who may wish to eradicate would be educated in donating some for plantation elsewhere. This can earn them some income. We would visit; mining areas, industries and schools to educate them on setting household bamboo plantation that will filter their liquids containing hazardous waste and pollutants before entering into water bodies. This will go on with frequent publicities on water pollution and other pollution topics. This is where Mr. Kodjo Opare comes in; he is a mechanic at a car workshop close to the Densu River at Weija. He has a low income hence, sleeps at the work shop. He depends daily on the River directly as his source of water. Our idea, of the use of bamboo would go a long way if implemented in other countries and public education would be given on how to mitigate the pollution of water bodies.

Bibliography List of sources referenced within this document. 1. 2. 3. 4. 5. 6. 7.

Biodiversity.europa.eu Econation Aburi Botanical Gardens Fashionedge.com Wikipedia Madam Leticia (Amanokrom, Ghana) +233 249964979 Water Research Institute (Science and Technology Policy Research Institute), Accra 8. Council For Scientific and Industrial Research, Accra 9. Healdove.com 10. Online science 11. San Francisco Gate (sfgate.com) 12. Pacinst.com 13. Quora.com 14. Nmsea.org 15. Linkedin.com 16. Agbogbloshie e-waste dealers association 17. www.ikonet.com 18. Ghana Urban Water Company Ltd